Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “van der Waals force” come from?

van der Waals force (English) comes from English force, from Middle English force, from Old French force, from Latin fortia, from Latin fortis, from Old Latin forctis, from Proto-Italic forktis, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- — to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain.

van der Waals force (English): The relatively weak attraction between neutral...

Definitions

  1. The relatively weak attraction between neutral...

Ancestry of “van der Waals force”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishforceStrength or energy of body or mind; active power;...
2Middle Englishforce—
3Old Frenchforcestrength; might
4Latinfortianominative neuter plural of fortis; accusative...
5Latinfortisstrong, powerful; firm, resolute, steadfast,...
6Old Latinforctisstrong
7Proto-Italicforktisstrong, robust
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰerǵʰ-to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- →